GST cuts make Diwali shopping cheaper:Families to save ₹3,000-₹12,000 on sweets, snacks, electronics vehicles; households benefit

At this time, one topic dominates conversations in homes across the country — with the changes in GST slabs, how much cheaper will Diwali shopping become? If the Diwali budget remains the same as last year, will people get more items this time or end up saving more? Which electronic products will offer real benefits, and which may not? Another key question is whether it’s more advantageous to buy clothes and shoes online or from local shops and showrooms. To find answers to these questions, Bhaskar prepared a Diwali shopping list based on the average consumer’s needs. After speaking with tax and retail experts, the team calculated the expected savings on each major category following the recent GST slab revisions. Read the full story.. Understand why this Diwali is special through 4 questions 1. If the budget is the same as last Diwali, will you get more items or save more? Yes. If the household budget remains unchanged from last Diwali, buyers will still gain. Experts estimate a benefit ranging from at least 7% to a maximum of 10%, depending on the products purchased. This advantage applies only to items where GST rates have been reduced. 2. What items will benefit from price reduction? The government has lowered taxes on several essential and high-demand items. These include consumer electronics such as TVs, air conditioners, and dishwashers, as well as two-wheelers, small cars, and daily-use goods. The reduction is expected to make major purchases more affordable during the festive season. 3. If my budget is ₹15,000, how much will I save? Items that cost ₹15,000 last Diwali are now priced 7% to 12% lower — provided the company hasn’t increased the base price. Based on this calculation, consumers shopping with a ₹15,000 budget can expect direct savings of ₹1,050 to ₹1,800. 4. Buy clothes online or from shops — where will you get the benefit? Whether buying from e-commerce platforms or physical showrooms, the benefit remains the same. The government has reduced GST on clothes priced up to ₹2,500 from 12% to 5%. The revised rate applies across all platforms, ensuring equal advantage for online and offline buyers. How much what type of discount on buying TV, bike, and car 55-inch TV at price of 43-inch TV Bhopal homemaker Shivani Tiwari had been saving small amounts every month for six years, collecting a total of ₹40,000. Her goal this Diwali was to buy a 43-inch smart TV. When she visited her neighborhood electronics showroom, she found that the same model was now available for ₹36,000 — ₹4,000 less than before. The government’s decision to reduce GST on smart TVs larger than 32 inches from 28% to 18% made the price drop possible. With the money saved, Shivani also bought decorative lights, sweets, and gifts for her children. A showroom sales manager confirmed that the reduction isn’t limited to TVs. “Tax has been reduced on ACs and dishwashers too, leading to direct savings of ₹2,000 to ₹10,000 for customers,” he said. After the GST revision, there is a direct saving of ₹2,000 to ₹10,000 on TVs and other electronic appliances. 120cc bike in 100cc bike budget Satyam, a final-year engineering student from Bhopal, had been planning to buy a 100cc bike but was hesitant due to cost. At the showroom, he discovered that GST on bikes and scooters below 350cc had been reduced from 28% to 18%. The bike he liked earlier had an on-road price of ₹1.05 lakh. Now, after the tax cut, it was available for ₹94,500 — a direct saving of ₹10,500. According to showroom general manager Deepak, the revision has boosted sales significantly. He said, Our sales have increased by 25%. Many people who were only inquiring earlier are now buying. Those coming with a 100cc budget are opting for 125cc bikes. GST rates have thus been reduced on bikes with an engine capacity of less than 350cc, providing clear benefits to first-time and mid-range buyers. Direct 10% savings on car purchase Shubham from Bhopal had planned to buy a small SUV this Diwali. When he checked prices before September 22, the car’s on-road price was ₹7 lakh. After the GST revision, the same model was invoiced at ₹6.30 lakh — a direct saving of ₹70,000. The government reduced GST on cars from 28% to 18%. Showroom sales manager Aditya said, In just one week, we have sold 70% more cars than last year. People don’t want to miss this opportunity. The change translates to a nearly 10% reduction in car prices across several popular segments. Experts say, ‘This Diwali will boost economy’ GST expert Mukul Sharma described the reduction under GST 2.0 as a major relief for consumers. With the elimination of 12% and 28% tax slabs, most items now fall under the 5% category or have become tax-free. Similarly, big-ticket products like white goods and automobiles have moved from the 28% to the 18% slab. According to Sharma, these changes directly impact household budgets, generating average monthly savings of around 10%. Earlier, the total tax on automobiles could reach nearly 50% when cess was included. Now, the total tax on hatchbacks and mid-size SUVs has dropped to 18%, giving customers a direct benefit of about 10%. He added that the lower tax burden will not only help households but also stimulate demand across multiple sectors. As consumer spending rises during the festive season, retailers, manufacturers, and service providers are all expected to experience stronger sales growth.